Man accused of practicing law without a license in South Carolina, collecting Anderson fees

A Georgia man is accused of practicing law without a license and collecting money for legal services he was not authorized to provide in several South Carolina counties, including Anderson.

James Herbert Byrd, 63, of Smyrna, Georgia, is charged with two counts of practicing law without a license and two counts of obtaining goods under false pretenses, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced Tuesday.

The alleged offenses occurred in Aiken, McCormick and Anderson counties between June 2013 and Dec. 31, 2014, according to arrest warrants and affidavits.

Byrd was arrested last week.

In Anderson County, Byrd is accused of accepting $3,500 from a woman for legal services that Byrd was to provide to her jailed boyfriend.

In McCormick County, Byrd is accused of practicing law or "soliciting the legal causes of " two South Carolina Department of Corrections inmates, though Byrd is not a member of the state bar or otherwise authorized to offer legal services in this state.

In Aiken County, Byrd is accused of accepting $6,500 from the father of one of the inmates he was dealing with in McCormick County.

If convicted, Byrd could face fines or up to five years in prison on the charge of obtaining goods under false pretenses. If he is convicted on a charge of practicing law without a license, Byrd could face additional fines and up to five years in prison.

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office will prosecute the case.

Follow Nikie Mayo on Twitter @NikieMayo or email her at mayon@independentmail.com.